Indo-German football tourney this Valentine's Day

To popularise soccer in Bengaluru, the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), in association with the German consulate, will host the 9th edition of IGCC Football Tournament at the NRA Ground, Palace Grounds, on February 14.

The tournament, which will begin at 9 am, will have 20 teams, including some from the leading German companies in Bengaluru. Some of them are: Bosch, Siemens, TÜV Rheinland, NCBS, Mercedes-Benz, Lufthansa Technik, Infineon Technologies, EFD Induction, Festo, Mann+Hummel, Wurth, SAP labs and others. Besides, there will be a separate children’s tournament, in which eight teams will participate.

Gopz Ortmann of the German Consulate said, “We have been promoting this exciting game for the past eight years in Bengaluru, and the increase in the number of participating teams and the people at the event demonstrates our success. Many fans and participants were part of the event last year. We see it as an intercultural exchange and as a symbol of the growing connection between the two countries.”

The section ‘Why Football’ on the official website of the tournament states: “Germany is a football-playing nation and India’s youngsters are starting to drop the cricket bat in favour of the football.”

The entire proceeds from the football tournament would be used for the development of Shanti Bhavan, a boarding school for underprivileged children in Tamil Nadu with around 200 students. The school is supported by the non-profit organisation Shanti Bhavan Educational Trust, which is based in Bengaluru, he added.

Good response
Apart from football, there will be fun activities, exhibition stalls of companies and colleges, a food court offering Indian and Continental food and a beverage garden in German Biergarten style, he said, hoping to see good response from the public.

Besides, the Ozone Group Football Academy and Bengaluru FC would organise a training event for children. The academy would give scholarships to children who perform outstandingly in the training session during the tournament, Ortmann said.
For details, visit http://igccfootball.com